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    When do the ’23 registration plates come out?

    New reg plates come in twice a year, once in March, and once again in September. When they arrive on the market, they will usually have a negative impact on the sale price of older cars.

    When is the ’23 plate release date?

    The DVLA will launch the ’23 plate on the 1st of March 2023. New reg plates are released at this time every year.

    What do the DVLA’s ’23 number plates mean?

    Since 2001, all new vehicles coming to market have had plates that follow a certain format:

    • Two numbers that represent when the car was registered 
    • Two letters that represent the region where the car was registered
    • Three other random letters

    In March 2023, the numbers that represent the ‘when’ part of the registration will just be the numbers of the year (i.e., 23). However, in September, it’s the year plus 50, so the same car registered six months later would be a ’73 reg. 

    Here are a few examples of cars registered in London (L) at Borehamwood (represented by K):

    Year of purchasePurchased after MarchPurchased after September
    2002LK02 MTWLK52 MTW
    2010LK10 MTW LK60 MTW
    2015LK15 MTW LK65 MTW
    2023LK23 MTWLK73 MTW

    What are the ’23 plate rules?

    Unless you purchase personalised reg plates, your ’23 reg plates must:

    • Be on the back and front of the vehicle
    • Be white on the front, and yellow on the back (unless your car is a vintage model and was registered before 1973)
    • Contain numbers and letters that are exactly 79 millimetres tall
    • Contain a space between the numbers that mark the year and the three random letters
    • Be in the ‘Charles Wright’ font 

    It is also a fact that drivers are not allowed to change or purposefully obscure their reg numbers. This can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Cars without clear reg plates will also fail their MOT.

    Cars released in March 2023 will have ’23 reg plates.

    What other elements can be on the new ’23 plates?

    British cars that are driven abroad must have nationality identifiers on their plates. This is the addition of a Union Flag and a badge saying ‘UK’.

    Electric vehicles (EVs) and cars with zero CO2 emissions can have a green identifier on their reg plates, either as a block of colour or as the background to the nationality identification.

    How do new plates affect my car value? 

    It’s not the new ’23 plates themselves that impact value, it’s the fact that for the six months before the ’73 plates come out in September, the ’23 plates represent the newest vehicle models to come to market. 

    Whenever newer models arrive in showrooms and on forecourts, it will always drive down the value of older models. 

    The ’23 plates will signal the newest, and in some cases, most valuable cars on the road, reducing the value of all older models from previous years.

    Looking to sell your car before it loses value?

    If you’re looking to sell your car quickly and easily – before it loses value in March – Motorway offers a simple, and completely free, method of getting your best price. 

    Just enter your reg on Motorway’s website or app and you will be provided with an instant estimated sale price based on up-to-the-minute market data. They’ll then ask you a few easy questions about your car and guide you through the photos you need to take to complete your vehicle profile. It can usually be done right from your phone – in a matter of minutes. 

    If you choose to enter your car into their daily sale, it will be shown to Motorway’s nationwide network of more than 5,000 verified dealers looking to add to their stock of used cars. Interested dealers will then compete to buy your car, offering you their best price.

    In as little as 24 hours you will receive your best offer – and, if you choose to go ahead with the sale, your car will be collected for free by the dealer and the money will be quickly and securely transferred to your bank account.

    Ready to sell?

    Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency. 

    Sell your car the Motorway way

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